A U T O     B U Z Z

Philippine Motor Vehicle Sales Jump 26.4% Y-O-Y in January

MANILA - Sales of motor vehicles in January this year went up by 26.4 per cent compared to January 2002, an encouraging start for a recovering industry that is being threatened by the imposition of higher excise tax rates by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

A report by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CAMPI) showed the total industry sales in January went up to 6,960 units, a jump from the 5,508 units sold in the same period last year.

Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. president Elizabeth H. Lee attributed the improved sales to the lingering impact of the US bombings.

"This was due to the lingering concerns over terrorism in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 bombings that depressed local market demand up to the first quarter of last year," Lee said.

Lee noted that the improved sales figure was largely pulled up by the 42.4 per cent increase in sales of commercial vehicles to 5,106 units as against 3,585 units in January last year.

This sector, she said, continued to dominate the market, accounting for 74 per cent of all sales.

But sales of passenger cars continued to slowdown by 3.6 per cent or 1.854 units as against 1,923 sold last year although compared to December last year, the figure was 14.6 per cent higher.

Sales of Asian utility vehicles (AUVs) accounted for the largest volume sold with 3,242 units and expectedly posted highest growth month-on-month with the inclusion of the Honda CR-V in this category beginning the second quarter of 2002.

Toyota Motor Phils. Corp. is the market leader for the month with 30.29 per cent followed by Honda Phils. Corp. with 26.03 per cent.

Sales of light commercial vehicles (category 2 of the Commercial Vehicle Development Program) was up by 4 per cent with Universal Motors Corp. topping this segment with 20.70 per cent share followed by Mitsubishi Motor Phils. Corp. with 17.21 per cent.

Sales of light trucks grew by 24 per cent month-on-month but declined 23 per cent from December levels. Ford Motor Co. Phils. Inc. is the market leader in this category with 38.77 per cent share with Isuzu Phils. Corp. with 34.06 per cent share.

Man Automotive Concessionaires Corp. sold 20 units in Category 4 or the heavy trucks and buses to top sales in this category.

Overall, TMPC led the motor vehicle assemblers with total sales of 2007 units followed by HCPI with 1,455 units and the much-improved performance of IPC with 1,145 units.

MMPC ranked fourth with 1,033 units sold and the combined sales of Nissan Motor Phils. Inc. and Universal Motors Corp. with 507 units.

FMCPI managed to sell 365 units.

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